Earning Halal in Islam
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EARNING HALAL IN ISLAM Mufti Shoebullah Khan Abstaining from Haram, and benefiting from the Halal income is as much necessary for the Muslims as the observance of Salah and payment of Zakah. It is a very surprising thing to mention that there is a very small number in the Muslim community who differentiate between the Halal and Haram methods of earning wealth. Many of them are of the opinion that as long as the end justifies the means, they do not have to care how they earn their money. To make the matter all the more difficult, some people even dare to say: “Why is a particular thing prohibited in Islam? What is wrong with benefiting from something? Why is a certain thing labeled as forbidden in the Islamic Shariah?” While the fact remains that it is derogatory to the rank of a Muslim to raise objections about the Revelations of Allah, the Almighty and harbor any doubts in his mind regarding His injunctions and Commandments in the Holy Qur‟an. However, it is a shocking phenomenon, and a sad fact for the Muslim society that a large number of Muslims now do not discriminate between the Halal and Haram earnings. They are involved in earning money by hook or by crook and seeking employments in undesirable occupations. They are deeply occupied in adopting all methods of amassing wealth, through all unfair and unjust means at their disposal. For this reason, we want to enlighten the Muslim community on the do‟s and don‟ts of Islam where earning money is concerned, and employing themselves in questionable institutions to earn their livelihood for themselves and their families, and the punishment of accumulating wealth by unfair means, so that those who fear Allah may keep themselves from committing what is prohibited in Islam and adopt the ways that are hundred percent Halal, and in this way win the pleasure of Allah in both the worlds for it is a form of worship in Islam. Earning Halal First of all, it must be understood by all Muslims that Islam has enjoined its followers to only earn and benefit from what is Halal. The Companion of the 1 © Copyright Reserved 2010 www.islamitijara.com Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) Anas Ibn Malik reports that Allah's Messenger (saws) said, “It is obligatory on every Muslim to seek what is Halal.” (Majma Az-Zawaid, 10:291) Abdullah Ibn Masud (ra) reports that Allah‟s Messenger once remarked: “It is Obligatory to seek to earn Halal after other Obligatory observations i.e. Prayers etc.” (Sunan Al-Baihaqi, 6:126) These two Traditions clearly point out that it is the responsibility of a true Muslim to seek the wealth, which is Halal and make himself busy in benefiting from all lawful means at his disposal. So, when a Muslim intends to adopt a profession, start out a business, or seek an employment, then he must seriously think that if they are lawful for him. For example, if a person has got the opportunity of landing a secure job in a bank, he must not take up this job, rather he should try to find another gainful substitute which is completely Halal and pure. Virtues of Earning Halal Islam has described many virtues for earning a Halal livelihood and seeking the lawful resources from the bounties of Allah. Abu Hurairah (ra) reports: “Once we were sitting in the presence of Allah‟s Messenger while a young person came to him from the mountains. When we saw him we wished that he invested his youth, energy and efforts in the way of Allah. Allah's Messenger heard our words and remarked, “Is the person killed in the way of Allah the only right person? The person who makes efforts for his parents is equal to the one who fights the battle in the way of Allah. And the person who tries to earn a lawful living for his family is also in the way of Allah and the person who tries to keep himself away from Haram is also in the way of Allah. On the other hand, the person who is always in the pursuit of seeking much more wealth is in the way of Satan.” (Al-Mujam Al-Awsat, Tabrani, 4:285, Sunan Al-Baihaqi, 9:25) Abu Hurairah (ra) reports that Allah‟s Messenger (saws) said, “The person who seeks his livelihood from lawful sources so that he could keep himself, his children and family from begging people, he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection with the Prophets and highly truthful people.” (Khatib in Tarikh Baghdad, 8:168) 2 © Copyright Reserved 2010 www.islamitijara.com Caliph Ali (ra) is reported to have said: “It is lovable to Allah to see his slaves‟ labor hard in seeking Halal.” (Al-Jami Sagheer: 1882) These narrations make it obvious that if a believer tries to seek only what is lawful his status is raised higher by Allah. The Blessings of Halal Wealth: The livelihood earned through lawful means is a great source of Divine blessings, and provides the right spiritual environment for a Muslim for he is always mindful and on his guard to reject all sorts of Haram earnings, and it yields good results, for the Divine blessing of Allah is also involved in such means of earning wealth. One of the most important results of consuming Halal is that Allah most assuredly answers a person's prayers. It is reported that once the Companion Sa‟ad Ibn Abi Waqqas asked the Messenger of Allah: “O Allah‟s Messenger pray for me to Allah that He makes me the one whose prayers are accepted. Upon this, the Holy Prophet commented, “O Sa‟ad, make your food Halal and your prayers will be accepted.” (Al-Mujam Awsat, 6: 311) This Hadeeth says that when a person consumes only what is Halal then it makes him highly accepted in the sight of Allah and He answers his Prayers and supplications. It is recorded that Sa„ad Ibn Abi Waqqas prayers used to be accepted. Ibn Rajab has reported that once a few Companions asked Sa‟ad as to why his prayers used to be accepted. Upon this he remarked, “I have never brought a morsel close to my mouth of which I did not know where it came from and where it went.” (Jamiul Uloom wa Al-Hikam, Ibn Rajab, 1: 107) A person is given strength and courage to carry out righteous deeds if he really eats Halal, which is mentioned in the Holy Qur‟an, “O Messengers eat from the good things and act righteously. Of whatever you do, I am fully aware.” (Al- Qur’an, 23:51) In the verse, above everything, the fact of eating Halal has been mentioned, and then doing good deeds, for consuming Halal helps a person do good deeds. It appears in a Hadeeth that once the sister of Shaddad Ibn Aus, Umm Abdullah, sent a bowl of milk to the Messenger of Allah (saws) when he was fasting. The day was very long and very hot. The Messenger of Allah (saws) returned the 3 © Copyright Reserved 2010 www.islamitijara.com milk to where it came from and sent a messenger to inquire about where it comes from. Umm Abdullah said that the milk was from her goat. When the messenger told the Holy Prophet this news, he again sent him to inspect from her that how the goat became her property. She told that she had purchased it with her money. Then he took the milk. The second day, Umm Abdullah came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (saws) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I had sent milk to you on account of the prolonged day and the heat of the daytime but you returned it to me.” Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (saws) remarked: “All the Prophets have been commanded to this effect that they must not eat but what is pure and must not consume but what is good.” (Mustadrak, Al-Hakim, 4:140 Al-Mujam Al-Kabeer, Tabrani, 25:174) If a person is blessed with eating Halal, then he has everything. There is nothing in this world that can harm such a person. Abdullah Ibn Amr (ra) reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) has said, “There are four things, if present in you, then no matter whatever you lose from this world: Protection of the trust, truth in speech, decency in manners and purity in eating.” (Musnad Ahmad: 6652, Mustadrak, Al-Hakim, 4: 349) Abu Said reports that Allah‟s Messenger (saws) once said, “The person who earns Halal and then he uses it for himself or gives it to someone or clothes someone, then this act will become a cause of purity for him.” (Sahih Ibn Hibban, 10:48, Mustadrak, 4:144) All these narrations clearly confirm the idea that the act of consuming lawful earnings is highly commendable and appreciable in the sight of Allah. The Ill Omen of Consuming Haram On the contrary, consuming Haram is strictly prohibited and condemned in Islam. Allah (swt) says in the Holy Qur‟an, “O those who believe do not eat up each other's property by false means unless it is a trade with your mutual consent.” (3:29) At another place in the Holy Qur‟an Allah (swt) says, “And do not eat up each other's property by false means, nor approach the authorities with it to eat up a portion of a property of the people sinfully while you know (all that).” (2:188) It is recorded in a lengthy Hadeeth that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “The person, who earns unlawfully and then spends for his needs, he will be 4 © Copyright Reserved 2010 www.islamitijara.com deprived of blessings.